Health care — Asian-American seniors uninsured at high rates

WASHINGTON, DC –Asian American and Pacific Islanders age 50 and older lack health insurance and access to quality, affordable health care compared with other Americans of the same age, a newly released AARP report bared.

“The Health and Healthcare of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders: An AARP Report” is the last of a three-part series of reports about key issues that affect AAPIs age 50 and older. The report, available for free download at www.AARP.org/AAPI, reveals that:

• 14 percent of AAPIs age 50 and older do not have health insurance (compared with 9 percent of the total US population of the same age)
• 20 percent of those age 50-64 are uninsured (compared with 15 percent of the total US population of the same age)
• 6 percent of those age 65 and older are uninsured (compared with 1 percent of total US population of the same age)
• 33 percent of AAPIs age 65 and older have private health insurance (compared with 52 percent of US population of the same age)

The main reason for non-coverage among AAPIs is cost. Employers and employee unions are the primary vehicles for health insurance coverage in the US. Because many AAPIs are self-employed or run small businesses, access and cost makes health insurance out of reach.

Among those age 65 and older, a greater proportion of AAPIs do not have Medicare coverage, to some extent because of ineligibility for Medicare among some immigrants.

“Given the cultural and socioeconomic diversity among Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) groups, understanding the unique needs of each community is the first step in ensuring their health needs are met,” said Daphne Kwok, AARP vice president of Multicultural Markets and Engagement for the Asian American and Pacific Islander Audience. “Our goal is to help reduce ethnic health disparities by closing the gaps in knowledge about this underserved community.”

For more information about how AARP helps Asian American and Pacific Islander families get more out of life, visit www.facebook.com/AARPAAPICommunity and www.twitter.com/AARPAAPI.